Operation controlling means for pressure fluid actuated tools



Aug. 1, 1944. SHAFF 2,354,841

OPERATION CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED TOOLS Original Filed Nov. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. H. SHAFF Aug. 1, 1944.

OPERATION CONTROLLING MEANS FOR. PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED TOOLS Oiiginal Filed Noy. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V//hr////////////// @125 EE/570 J37 m. m. fi Mm,

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 I;

OPERATION CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED 'rooLs.

Ernest H. Shaft, Grand Haven, Mich, assigno'r to Keller Tool Company, Grand Haven, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application November 4, 1937, Serial No. a

172,681, now Patent No. 2,313,843, dated March 16, 1943. Divided and this application Decemher '7, 1939, Serial No. 307,980

11 Claims. (o1. 121- -3s) 1 This invention relates to operation controlling means for pressure fluid actuated tools and more particularly concerns valve mechanism adapted for controlling the working cycle of a pistonj'scrib'e in detail the preferred embodiment, but

it'ris'to beunderstood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, butintend to cover all modifications actuated pneumatic tool such as a compression 5 and alternative constructions falling within the riveter. a v spirit and scope of the invention as expressed 7 The present application is a division of my co [in the appended claims. p'ending application Serial No. 172,681 -filed The pressure-fluid-actuated tool selected for November 4,-1937, now Patent No. 2,313,843, ispurposes of illustration in connection with the sued March 16, 1943. invention is a compression riveter (Fig. 1) which I [A general object of the invention is to prdincludes an elongated piston-chamber housing Vide novel mechanism adapted to govern a preson barrel I0 near one end of which is mounted sure fluid actuated'tool for single cycle operalaterally projecting relatio a r v y H tion. g having one arm anchored rigidly between spaced Another object is'to provide pressure-fiuidparallel ears I2 upon the barrel. The outer arm responsive mechanism of thiskind for governing of the y carries a d u a sta ary a the movements of the tool through an operatin vil or rivet set [3, while the attached or base arm "cycleand then automatically halting the tool. i y has a e H the f ard e A further object of the invention isto provide thereof'sefving as the! bearing guide o n e o 1controlmechanism of the foregoing general chars t d reciprocal compression ram 5 a ry a acter 'which becomes automatically re'condirivet Set The ram has an inner d or a tioned or reset at theend of each'operating cycle. Section of rectangular CrOSS Section Which .Still another objector the invention is to slides within a suitable forwardly opening recess 'vide improved means for governing the pressure ..I9 formed within a reduced front 'nose portion fiuid' responsive driving assembly of a compres- 1 p the barrel and Closed by a beari g sion riveter to operate the ram thereof seleclate 2|. Q tively through .a complete working cycle in l h. For driving the ram 15 to carry the movable 'i ng a compression stroke and an instantaneo l rivet set [1 toward the stationary rivet set l3, "succeeding return stroke, and to stop the ram at a piston assembly ncluding a right angularly theend of th cycle even though t p e 1 disposed piston rod 22, carrying front and rear fiuidsupply has'not be n h t pressure-fiuid-actuated tandempistons 23 and oth obje t a advantages will become 24, respectively, is connected at its forward end parent in the following description and from the t0 the ram base 18 by me of dfiving link accom an i drawings in g The pistons are respectively located within front Figure 1 is 'a fragmentary elevational view, '35 and e cylindrical piston mb 27 2a partially in longitudinal vertical section, of a t e barrel n Separated by a Partition. 29 riveting t l embodying" features of t e n; through which the piston rod 22 extends slidably. tipn, p p I Pressure fluid such as compressed air for drivj' iF 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal "vertical il' the pistons is delivered from suitable sectional view through the rear portion or the in S c through the l r Wall of e barrel I0 j' tool; showing 'theworking parts in the relative 3 Which for t is purpose has, a delivery po t, 30 jpo'sitionsassumed at the'end vof a power stroke m i ti i h th P e d of thep tQ i'n'the" operatingcycle of the tool. chamber nd o h r d v p t 3 ig. ,2) 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken ich communicates through a d t 32 in the in'the" same plane as Fig. 2 showing the manual wall ofthe barrel with the forward end of the control valve mechanism in the closed condition cham e a P e fluid. admitted throu thereof; f j the port 30'drives the piston assembly forwardly Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalrele in iii/oiling Stroke While Pressure fluid admittd vational-view through thegover'nor valve ho sing through the port 3| and the duct 32 actuates with the governor valve body removed. to the piston assembly in a return stroke. The'driv- ;Fig; :5 is a perspective view of the governor ing pressure fluid is conducted from the rear pisvalve body, one larger scale. f ton chamber 28 tothe rear end of the piston "*While the invention is susceptible of"variou s chamber 21 through an axial passage .33 and modificatmns and alternative constructional lead-off or distributor ports 34 in the piston rod have shown in the drawings and willhe'rein dc- 22.

'valve plunger 45.

identified at and 31, respectively, operating in seriesbetween the source of supply and the delivery ports 39 and 3| (Figs. 1 and 2). Herein the valve mechanism 35 comprises a self-con tained unit housed within a casing 38 one side of which has an inlet boss 39 with which is con '1 nected the delivery end of a pressure fluid con-- duit 49. The pressure fluid is conducted from the.

the automatic controller and passes through an inlet port 89 into a barrel or cylinder 6| which is fixedly secured within a bore 62 in the governor casin 43. The opposite ends of the cylinder 6| are closed by closure disks-63 and 64, respectively,

which may be threaded into the opposite ends of the bore 52. Within the cylinder 6! is a longitudinally reciprocable governor plunger or piston casing 33 through a nipple 4| projecting there-. from into threaded engagement Within a boss.

42 at the rear of a hollow casing 43 which houses the valve mechanism 31 and is preferably formed 1 integrally with the rear Wall of' the'barrel l9.

The manual control valve mechanism 35 preferably of the type which not only controls" the delivery of the pressure fluid supply but also functions to relieve the tool of any remaining pressure'fluid after the live pressure fluid supply has been discontinued. On the other hand the pressure-fluid-responsive valve mechanism 3! acts as an automatic controller operative auto- ;matically in a cycle timed with respect to the operating cycle of the piston assembly to direct the pressure fluid admitted throu h the manual valve mechanism 35 "first through the delivery port 39' to drive the piston assembly iorwardly'in a power or riveting' stroke'and then through the delivery port 3'l to return the piston assembly to starting position. At the end of the operating cycle the controller a'cts'to halt operation of the tool until the pressure fluid control system is re- 'conditionedby closing of the manual valve mechanism. I

Operation of the manual control valve mecha- 'nism 35 is efiected'by means of a suitable handle 44 which is pivotally mounted upon the easing 38'to bear'againjst the outer end of a slidable A bushing 47 fixedly secured within a bore 48 intersecting the axis of the boss '39 provides a bearing for the plunger. The bushing 41 is shorter than the bore 4 8 and at its inner end serves as theseat for a valve member 49 which is normally urged into seating relation (in broken outline in Fig. 2 and in full line in Fig. 3) by acompressionspringElJ that bears against a screw plug 5| closing the adjacent end of the bore 48. The inner end of'the plunger is'adapted to bear sealingly against the seating'face of the valve member 49 when the plunger is forced inwardly by the handle 44; as shownin full line position'in Fig. 2, to unseat the valve member 49. By thus opening the valve, a passageway is opened for pressure fluid from the boss 39 through a port 52 past the valve member 49 and through as'eries 'of'ducts 53 and an annular circumferential groove 54 in the bushing 41 to a duct 55 leading into the nippled I; Upon releasing the handle '44 the valve member 49 is reseated to shut off the pressure fluid supply. At the same time the plunger 4-5 is unseated from the valve member 49 by'a compression spring acting within an axial or relief valve. 7 I Live pressure fluid passed; by openingoi the valve mechanism 35 entersthe casing boss of @648 -t a n er (Fig 3) and bearing shown).

valve body 35 which is normally urged by resilient means such as anexpansile compression spring '6'! into initial position (Fig. 1) wherein one end cfthe valve body may abut one of the closure disks, herein the closure disk 63. The spring 61 .may be seated within an axial bore 68 in the valve body and bears against the closure disk 64.

'lbOdY and passes from the groove through a discharge port I9 in the cylinder wall communicating with the delivery port 39 at the rear of the piston barrel. The pressure fluid thusbecomes effective to drive the pistons forwardly in a power or riveting stroke. I

While the pistons are traveling forwardly the air in front of the forward piston 23 is exhausted to atmosphere through suitable openings (not At the same time air in front of the rear piston 24 is exhaustedthrough the: duct 32 and the port 3| which registers with a suitable port H in the valve cylinder 6|. The exhausting air escapes to atmosphere from one side of the valve cylinder through an exhaust port 12 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is placed in communication with the port H by a circumferential annular groove 13 in the valve body 65.

When the driving pistons have substantially reached the forward end of the power stroke, the rear piston 24 uncovers a port 74 located at a predetermined intermediate point of the side wall of the rear piston chamber28. Thereupon, live pressure fluid immediately passes through the port 14 and a suitable passageway 15 formed in the side and end walls of the piston .barrel to communicate by way of a port 1'! in the wall of the valve cylinderfil with an annular peripheral groove 18 (Fig. 1) and a series of ports 19 in the valve body 65'. The port 1! is preferably in the form" of a slot extending across the adjacent mouth of the passageway 15, but it may be round or any other suitable shape. The ports, 19 open into a chamber or pocket 89 which is formed as a short axial bore in that end of the valve body 65 which opposes the closure disk 63. Upon reaching the pocket 89, the live pressure fluid is trapped" and develops sufficient force amounting to a quick contra-bias impulse. to overcome and compress the spring 61 and force the valve body 65 away from the closure disk 63 toward abutmentwith the opposite closure disk 64. a result; the valvebody groove 13 is carried out 'of register with the exhaust port 'IZ'and into registration with the pressure fluid inlet port 69, while the groove 69' is moved out of register with the inlet port-69 and into registration with an exhaust port 81 opening to atmosphere from the valve cylinder 6| in spaced relation to the exhaust port 12 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). As this change is effected, the live pressure fluid, passes byway of the groove 13, the ports II and 3|v and the duct 32 to' the forward end of the rearpiston chamber 29 to return the pistons to theistarting position (shown in full line in Fig. 1 and in broken outine .i .j

. p n hifting of. the; valve, body 65 into the pistonereversing position, a solid peripheralarea aof the; valve body closes the port Tl (Fig.2) and live pressure fluid is admitted into the pocket 80 through a small pressure fluid duct 82 which communicates with the valvebodygroove J3. The duct 82 is preferably smaller incross-Sec- ,tional flow area than the port 11 so that even though a small amount of pressure fluid entering .by way of the port 11 may escape initially through the duct 82, the channel 13 and the exhaustport J2, yet such escapeis retarded bythe flow differential between the port 11 and the duct 82. Frictional resistance to passage of the pressure fluid due to 'the length of the duct. 82 is another factor in the development of pressure within the pocket 80. In practice, shifting of the valve 55 has been found to be practically instantaneous. I'hus, the pressure pocket is caused to remain active to hold the valve body. 65in shifted'position from the beginning to the end of the return stroke of the pistons, At theend of the return stroke the tool will automatically come we halt even though the manual control valve mechanism 35 remains open, because as long as live pressure fluid continues to befadiriittedtov the governor valve mechanism the pressure pocket 80' continues to hold the valve body, 65 against return to it"s initial position.

v To eifect a repetition of the operating cycle df the tool it is necessary to release the handle to vclose the control valve member 49, andop'en the relief valve 45 so as to vent the'pressure fluid 'from the pocket 80.' This releases the spring 6 which returns the valve body' 65 back to the initial position, thus completing the operating cycle of and reconditioning the controller mecha' nism 31 for a repetition "of the cycle of tool operation, v i i l Should the tool become stalled for any reason before the intermediateport I4fis uncovered by the rear piston 24, thevalve bodyf6 5 maybe manually shifted to reverse the pressure fluid delivery so as to return the'driving pistons to their initial positions; Suitable means for. this purpose I comprises a release pinor plunger 83 which projects slidably through an axial aperture '84 in the eiosure disk 63 into the pocket 80. Intermediate its ends the release pin 83 is'preferably'provided with a retaining collar 85 which serves during normal operation as a seal to avoid pressure fluid leakage around the shank-of the pin through the aperture 84. Longitudinal force applied to the valve body 65 by pressingthe release pin 8 3 inwardly vthereagainst (broken line position in 2)v servesto compressithq spring 51 and shift the valve body into piston-reversing position, v H L I 1 From the foregoing it willbeapparentthat th present invention provides anovel arrangement of .valve mechanisms of inexpensive construction for eificiently controllinga pressure fluid operated tool for one-cycle operation.'- Even though the manually operated pressure'fluid supply controlling valve may be held open longer thanthe completition of the operating cycleof the. tool, the cycle governing mechanism positively halts the tool and requires closing of-themanual control valve before the mechanism can be reconditioned for repetitionof theoperating cycle; Moreover, should the tool become stalled before the power stroke hasfbeen completed, the working parts can bequickly returned to the starting position by manual adjustment or the controller valve me hani m w u 1"."

5: Lclaimasmy invention: .r l l 1 Axcycle governing mechanismfor arivetin .toolzof the character describedcomprising a barrel, pressure fluidoperatedpiston meansiand means for supplyingpiston-motivating pressure fluid; said cycle controlling mechanism'including a, reciprocable plunger valve andv resilient means for normally urging said plunger valve into posi: tion to direct the pressurefluidto actuate said piston means in the driving stroke, said plunger valve having a chamber at one end thereof and means communicating with said barrel for (icelivering pressure fluid from the barrel to said chamber at the end of said driving stroke to shift said plunger valve in opposition to said resilient means for directing the pressure fluidto return the piston means to'starting position, and means. controlled by the plungervalve when in its shifted position to connect said chamberwith said source of pressure fluid whereby to hold the valve in its shifted position. I

2. A pressure fluid actuated tool comprising fin combination, a pressure fluid responsive driving piston and a' chamber for'said piston, said chamber having an end wall including a port communicatingwith one end of the chamber for delivery Iof pressure fluid to drive said piston in one direction and another port communicating with the opposite'end of said chamber for driving said piston in the oppositedirection, a housing on said,

end wall in communication with saidports and having a pressure fluid inlet thereto, a reciprocable valve member within said housing adapted in one position to direct thepressure fluid from said inlet to said one port and inthe other position to direct the'pressure fluid from the inlet to the other port, means fornormall'y urgingsaid valve member into said one position, pressure fluid re} sponsive means for urging said valve member into said second position, a passage communicate ing with said pressure fluid responsive means and I with said chamber adapted to beopened for'pres sure fluid delivery from said chamber to said pressure fluid responsive means coincident with movement of said piston into a given position Within said chamber, and'means controlled by said valve member'as an incident'to its movement into said secondposition for placing said pressure fluid responsive means in direct com munication with said inlet after said valve member has been moved to said second position. l '3, A pressure fluid actuated tool comprising, in combination, .a pressure fluid responsive driving piston and a chamber for said piston, said chamber having an end wall including aport come municating with one end of the chamb er for delivery of pressure fluid to drive said piston in one. direction and another port communicating with the opposite end of said chamber for driving said pistonpin the opposite direction a housing on-said end wall in communication with said ports andv having apressure fluid-inlet thereto, a re.- ciprocable valve member. within a said housing adapted inone position to direct the pressure fluid from said inlet to said one port and. inthe other position to direct the pressure fluid from the inlet to the other port,'means for normally urging said valve member into said one position, pressure fluid responsive means for urging said valve member'into said second position, a passage communicating' with said pressure fluid responsive means and with said chamber adapted to be opened for pressure fluid delivery from said chamber to said pressure fluid responsive means coincident with movementioflsaid"pistoninto a given position-within said-*chamben-meams con- .trolled 'by'sau'd valve member when inzitsshifted posit-ion for placingsaid pressure fluid responsive means in direct communicationwith said inlet after said valve memberhas been moved to'said second position,'andmeans for releasing pressure fluid fromsaid pressure fluid responsive means at the end of a cycle of operation.

'4. In a pressure'fluid'actuated' tool havinga cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, acycle controlling valve mechanism comprising a hous ing' having an elongated cylindrical chamber therein closed at the opposite ends and including an inlet port and a pair 'of delivery portsas well as-a pair of exhaust ports in its longitudinal wall, said inlet port ,communicating with a source of pressure fluid and said delivery ports being connected respectivelywiththe opposite ends of said cylinder, a plunger within'said chamber having a limited range of longitudinal sliding movement, pressure fluid channels in said plunger ffo'r' alternately effecting communication of said delivery ports with said inlet port or with said exhaust ports, said plungerihaving an axial bore formed within one end and a pocket formed within the other end, a spring seated Within said bore'and bearing against the adjacent closure of the chamber for normally urging said plunger toward the opposite closureof the chamber, and means for effecting communication at one point in the cycle of operation with one side of the driving p ston and'with said pocket to create a pressure fluid force opposing said spring to shift said plunger to the opposite end of said chamber. j 5. In a pressure fluid actuated tool having "a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, a cycle control valve mechanism comprising a housing having an elongated chamber therein closed at the opposite ends and including an inlet port and a pair of delivery ports as well as apair of exhaust ports in its longitudinal wall, said inlet port communicating with a source of pressure fluid and said delivery ports being connected respectively with the opposite ends of said cylinder,

a plunger within said chamber-having a limited range of longitudinalisliding movement, pressure fluid channels in said plunger for alternately effecting communication of said delivery ports with said inlet port or with said exhaust ports, said plungerhaving an axial bore formed within one end and a pocket formed'within the other end, a spring seated within said bore-and bearing against the adjacent closure of the chamber for normally urging said plunger toward the opposite :er; within said chamber constructed to :control thedlow of pressure fluid alternatelyto the oppositeends of the .cylinder in=accordance with the position of the plunger adjacent tothe respective opposite ends of the chamber, means normally biasing said plunger for movement into position atone end of the chamber for delivering pressure fluid to the rear end of the cylinder, said plunger having a pocket at 'the end thereof adjacent saicl'one end'of the chamber, means operative as an incident to completion of the forwardstroke of the piston for delivering pressure fluid to said pocket to effect a shifting of the :p'lunger in opposition to said biasing means, the

closureof the chamber, means for efiecting c'o'mmunic ation at one point in the cycle of operation with one side of the driving piston and with said pocket to create a pressure-fluid force opposing said spring to shiftsaid plunger tothe opposite end of said chamber, means on'said plunger for shutting oii said communication-when said plunger isthus shifted; and meansoperative coincident with said shut-off means to provide a-dire'ct pas sageto said. inlet for. conducting live pressure fluid into said pocket aftersaid cominunicationeefiech ingmeansha's beengshut off.

6. In a pressure .fluidoperated cylinder and a piston to be-drivenin a single com tinuous cycle and then halted in the starting position, a cycle controlling, device including ,an elongated chamber communicati b with; anon: trolled source of pressure .fluid and with the-op-- posite ends of :said cylinder, -,a,reciprocableplunge iast mentioned means including a passage closed jupon such shifting of the plunger, a duct leading from said pocket arranged for entering into direct communication with the pressure fluid source coincident with closing of said passage ivhereby' to maintain live pressure fluid force withinsaid pocket continuously until the supply of pressure'fluid is discontinued, and means for exhausting the pressure fluid from said pocket upond-iscontinuance'of the pressure fluid supply. '7. A cycle controlling valve mechanism for a pressure fluid tool having a chamber, a piston recipro'ca'ble in said chamber and a source'of pressure fluid; said mechanism comprising a'housing; :a valve member movable within predetermined limits in said housing and operative when in one limit 2 position to direct pressure fluid into the piston chamber to 'drive the piston forwardly and when in the opposite limit position to direct the pressure fluid into the piston chamber for returning the piston to starting position; means normally' biasing said valve member toward said one limit position; means controlled by the piston in' its forward stroke operative to subject said valve member to a momentary impulse of pros sure fluid to shift said valve member toward said opposite limit position; and means controlled by such shifting of the valve member into said opposite positionto direct live pressure fluid from said source against said valve member to continu e to hold it in its shifted position. 8. In a pressure fluid'actuated tool, the combination with a cylinder having a piston. chamber, a piston therein and a source of pressure and athr'ottlevalvetherefor, of a single stroke valve m'echanismfcom-prising a valve casing, a valve member insaid casing, a spring acting on said valve member to-'hold it in a normal position, means controlled by said valve member when in saidnormal position to :admit pressure fluid from said source to the rear end of saidpiston cham ber to 'drive' the piston forwardly therein, said valve member having a pressure area subject to the action-of pressure-fluid to efiect movement of thevalve member into a shifted position against the action of said spring, means operative when the :piston is inits forward position in the .piston chamber -to eifect :the admission of pressure fluid from said chamber to said pressure area. on the valve member and cause the valve member to be movedinto its shifted: position, meanscontrolled by the valve :memberjinits shifted position to admit pressure fluid to theforward end of the piston lchambertolfetllrn thepiston, andmeans also operative asan incident to the movement of said valve :member into its shifted position to subject -said -va1ve.member tothe action of live pressure fluid whereby ,tohold the valve member shiftedso long as the throttle valve remains open. 9. In a pressure fluid actuated mol -the eon) bination with a cylinder having a piston chamber, a piston therein and a source of pressure and a throttle valve therefor, of a single-stroke valve mechanism comprising a valve casing, a valve member in said casing, a spring acting on said valve member to hold it in a normal position, means controlled by said valve member when in said normal position to admit pressure fluid from said source to the rear end of said piston chamber to drive the piston forwardly therein, said valve member having a pressure area subject to the action of pressure fluid to effect movement of the valve member intoa shifted position against the action of said spring, means for supplying pressure fluid from said chamber to said pressure area on the valve member to cause the valve member to be moved into its shifted position, means controlled by the valve member in its shifted position to admit pressure fluid to the forward end of the piston chamber to return the piston, and means also operative as an incident to the movement of said valve member into its shifted position to subject said valve member to the action of live pressure fluid whereby to hold the valve member shifted so long as the throttle valve remains open.

10. In a pressure fluid actuated tool, the combination with a cylinder having a piston chamber, a piston therein, and a source of pressure and a throttle valve therefor, of a single-stroke valve mechanism comprising a valve casing, a valve member in said casing, a spring acting on said valve member to hold it in a normal position, said valve in said normal position having open passages for admitting pressure fluid from said source to one end of said piston chamber to drive the piston toward the other end of said chamber, said valve member having a pressure area subject to the action of pressure fluid to effect movement of the valve member into a shifted position against the action of said spring, means for supplying pressure fluid from said one end of said piston chamber to said pressure area on the valve member to cause the valve member to be moved into its shifted position, means controlled by the valve member in its shifted position to admit pressure fluid to said other end of the piston chamber to return the piston, and means also operative as an incident to the movement of said valve member into its shifted position to subject said valve member to the action of live pressure fluid whereby to hold the valve member shifted so long as the throttle valve remains open.

11. In a pressure fluid actuated tool, the combination with a cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein, and a source of pressure fluid and a throttle valve therefor, of a single stroke valve mechanism shiftable to control the flow of pressure fluid from said source to either end of said cylinder, said mechanism including a valve member spring urged to a normal position and having passages in said position for admitting pressure fluid to one end of said cylinder, and other passages established in the shifted position of said valve member for admitting pressure fluid to the other end of said cylinder, pressure fluid responsive means for shifting said valve against the spring load thereon, and plural passages alternately opened by said valve mechanism for subjecting said pressure fluid responsive means to live pressure fluid first from the cylinder end to which pressure fluid is admitted by said valve member in the normal position thereof and next directly from said source after said valve member has been shifted by the first admitted pressure fluid, said valve member being held in shifted position by the last admitted pressure fluid so long as said throttle valve is open.

ERNEST H. SHAFF. 

